Kinesin KIFC3 is essential for microtubule stability and cytokinesis in oocyte meiosis.

KIFC3 is a member of Kinesin-14 family motor proteins, which play a variety of roles such as centrosome cohesion, cytokinesis, vesicles transportation and cell proliferation in mitosis. Here, we investigated the functional roles of KIFC3 in meiosis. Our findings demonstrated that KIFC3 exhibited expression and localization at centromeres during metaphase I, followed by translocation to the midbody at telophase I throughout mouse oocyte meiosis. Disruption of KIFC3 activity resulted in defective polar body extrusion. We observed aberrant meiotic spindles and misaligned chromosomes, accompanied by the loss of kinetochore-microtubule attachment, which might be due to the failed recruitment of BubR1/Bub3. Coimmunoprecipitation data revealed that KIFC3 plays a crucial role in maintaining the acetylated tubulin level mediated by Sirt2, thereby influencing microtubule stability. Additionally, our findings demonstrated an interaction between KIFC3 and PRC1 in regulating midbody formation during telophase I, which is involved in cytokinesis regulation. Collectively, these results underscore the essential contribution of KIFC3 to spindle assembly and cytokinesis during mouse oocyte meiosis.

Implementation and impact of the World Health Organization integrated care for older people (ICOPE) program in China: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Fragmentation of services increases health and social care burden as people live longer with higher prevalence of diseases, frailty and dependency. Local evidence for implementing person-centred integrated care is urgently needed to advance practice and policies to achieve healthy ageing. OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility and impact of World Health Organization's (WHO) Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach in China. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial examining the feasibility of implementing ICOPE approach, evaluating its impact on health outcomes and health resource utilisation. SETTING: Primary care setting in urban and suburban communities of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. SUBJECTS: Community-dwelling older adults screened as at-risk of functional declines and randomised into intervention (537) and control (1611) groups between September 2020 and February 2021. METHODS: A 6-month intervention program following WHO's ICOPE care pathways implemented by integrated care managers compared to standard available care. RESULTS: After 1 to 1 propensity score matching, participants in intervention and control groups (totally 938) had comparable baseline characteristics, demonstrated feasibility of implementing ICOPE with satisfaction by participants (97-99%) and providers (92-93%). All outcomes showed improvements after a 6-month intervention, while statistically significant least-squares mean differences (control-intervention) in vitality (Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short Form to measure vitality, -0.21, 95% CI, -0.40-0.02), mobility (Short Physical Performance Battery to measure mobility, -0.29, 95% CI, -0.44-0.14) and psychological health (Geriatric Depression Scale five items to measure psychological health, 0.09, 95% CI, 0.03-0.14) were observed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to localise and implement WHO's ICOPE approach in regions with fragmented resources such as China. Preliminary evidence supports its acceptance among key stakeholders and impact on health outcomes.

Benzo[a]pyrene exposure disrupts the organelle distribution and function of mouse oocytes.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compound that is generated during combustion processes, and is present in various substances such as foods, tobacco smoke, and burning emissions. BaP is extensively acknowledged as a highly carcinogenic substance to induce multiple forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, skin cancer, and stomach cancer. Recently it is shown to adversely affect the reproductive system. Nevertheless, the potential toxicity of BaP on oocyte quality remains unclear. In this study, we established a BaP exposure model via mouse oral gavage and found that BaP exposure resulted in a notable decrease in the ovarian weight, number of GV oocytes in ovarian, and oocyte maturation competence. BaP exposure caused ribosomal dysfunction, characterized by a decrease in the expression of RPS3 and HPG in oocytes. BaP exposure also caused abnormal distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and induced ER stress, as indicated by increased expression of GRP78. Besides, the Golgi apparatus exhibited an abnormal localization pattern, which was confirmed by the GM130 localization. Disruption of vesicle transport processes was observed by the abnormal expression and localization of Rab10. Additionally, an enhanced lysosome and LC3 fluorescence intensity indicated the occurrence of protein degradation in oocytes. In summary, our results suggested that BaP exposure disrupted the distribution and functioning of organelles, consequently affecting the developmental competence of mouse oocytes.

Cu(II)-Loaded Polydopamine-Coated Urchin-like Titanate Microspheres as a High-Performance IMAC Adsorbent for Hemoglobin Separation.

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) adsorbents generally have excellent affinity for histidine-rich proteins. However, the leaching of metal ions from the adsorbent usually affects its adsorption performance, which greatly affects the reusable performance of the adsorbent, resulting in many limitations in practical applications. Herein, a novel IMAC adsorbent, i.e., Cu(II)-loaded polydopamine-coated urchin-like titanate microspheres (Cu-PDA-UTMS), was prepared via metal coordination to make Cu ions uniformly decorate polydopamine-coated titanate microspheres. The as-synthesized microspheres exhibit an urchin-like structure, providing more binding sites for hemoglobin. Cu-PDA-UTMS exhibit favorable selectivity for hemoglobin adsorption and have a desirable adsorption capacity towards hemoglobin up to 2704.6 mg g-1. Using 0.1% CTAB as eluent, the adsorbed hemoglobin was easily eluted with a recovery rate of 86.8%. In addition, Cu-PDA-UTMS shows good reusability up to six cycles. In the end, the adsorption properties by Cu-PDA-UTMS towards hemoglobin from human blood samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results showed that Cu-PDA-UTMS are a high-performance IMAC adsorbent for hemoglobin separation, which provides a new method for the effective separation and purification of hemoglobin from complex biological samples.

Progress in the Regulation of Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment by Bioactive Compounds of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) can aid tumor cells in evading surveillance and clearance by immune cells, creating an internal environment conducive to tumor cell growth. Consequently, there is a growing focus on researching anti-tumor immunity through the regulation of immune cells within the TME. Various bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are known to alter the immune balance by modulating the activity of immune cells in the TME. In turn, this enhances the body's immune response, thus promoting the effective elimination of tumor cells. This study aims to consolidate recent findings on the regulatory effects of bioactive compounds from TCM on immune cells within the TME. The bioactive compounds of TCM regulate the TME by modulating macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells and T lymphocytes and their immune checkpoints. TCM has a long history of having been used in clinical practice in China. Chinese medicine contains various chemical constituents, including alkaloids, polysaccharides, saponins and flavonoids. These components activate various immune cells, thereby improving systemic functions and maintaining overall health. In this review, recent progress in relation to bioactive compounds derived from TCM will be covered, including TCM alkaloids, polysaccharides, saponins and flavonoids. This study provides a basis for further in-depth research and development in the field of anti-tumor immunomodulation using bioactive compounds from TCM.

Genome-wide identification of Brassicaceae histone modification genes and their responses to abiotic stresses in allotetraploid rapeseed.

BACKGROUND: Histone modification is an important epigenetic regulatory mechanism and essential for stress adaptation in plants. However, systematic analysis of histone modification genes (HMs) in Brassicaceae species is lacking, and their roles in response to abiotic stress have not yet been identified. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 102 AtHMs, 280 BnaHMs, 251 BcHMs, 251 BjHMs, 144 BnHMs, 155 BoHMs, 137 BrHMs, 122 CrHMs, and 356 CsHMs in nine Brassicaceae species, respectively. Their chromosomal locations, protein/gene structures, phylogenetic trees, and syntenies were determined. Specific domains were identified in several Brassicaceae HMs, indicating an association with diverse functions. Syntenic analysis showed that the expansion of Brassicaceae HMs may be due to segmental and whole-genome duplications. Nine key BnaHMs in allotetraploid rapeseed may be responsible for ammonium, salt, boron, cadmium, nitrate, and potassium stress based on co-expression network analysis. According to weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), 12 BnaHMs were associated with stress adaptation. Among the above genes, BnaPRMT11 simultaneously responded to four different stresses based on differential expression analysis, while BnaSDG46, BnaHDT10, and BnaHDA1 participated in five stresses. BnaSDG46 was also involved in four different stresses based on WGCNA, while BnaSDG10 and BnaJMJ58 were differentially expressed in response to six different stresses. In summary, six candidate genes for stress resistance (BnaPRMT11, BnaSDG46, BnaSDG10, BnaJMJ58, BnaHDT10, and BnaHDA1) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings help clarify the biological roles of Brassicaceae HMs. The identified candidate genes provide an important reference for the potential development of stress-tolerant oilseed plants.

Effect of a moderate CYP3A inducer efavirenz on the pharmacokinetics of fuzuloparib: An open-label, fixed sequence study in Chinese healthy male subjects.

To evaluate the potential drug-drug interaction (DDI), safety and tolerability of fuzuloparib co-administered with a moderate CYP3A inducer efavirenz in healthy male subjects. Eighteen healthy male subjects were enrolled in a single-center, single-arm, open-label, fixed-sequence study. Fuzuloparib was administered as a single oral 50 mg under a fasting state on day 1, efavirenz (600 mg once daily) was given on days 4-17 before bed time, concomitantly with fuzuloparib on day 18, and for the follow-up 3 additional days (days 19-20). Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed following each fuzuloparib dose. Safety and tolerability were assessed during the whole process via clinical laboratory tests. Ratios of least-squares means (GMRs) and 90% geometric confidence interval (90% CI) of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), the area under the curve of plasma concentration-time from zero to the last measurable concentration (AUC0 - t) and the area under the curve of blood concentration from zero to infinity (AUC0-∞) for fuzuloparib combined with efavirenz to fuzuloparib alone were 0.473 (0.394, 0.568), 0.220 (0.185, 0.263) and 0.221 (0.185, 0.263), respectively. Co-administration with efavirenz led to 53% and 78% decreases in fuzuloparib Cmax and AUC0-∞. All 18 subjects enrolled in this study were included in the safety analysis set. A total of 16 subjects had 62 AEs during the study period. No serious adverse events (SAE) were reported. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were grade 1 or 2 based on CTCAE. Only one grade 3 adverse event was observed. Concomitant intake of fuzuloparib with the moderate CYP3A inhibitor efavirenz resulted in a decrease in fuzuloparib AUC0-∞ and Cmax of 78% and 53% respectively. The results suggested that concomitant moderate CYP3A inducers should be avoided during the administration of fuzuloparib, or else the dosage adjustments should be required. (This trial was registered at http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn . The registration No. is CTR20211022, and the date of registration is 2021-05-13).

Single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral blood reveals that monocytes with high cathepsin S expression aggravate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. After cerebral ischemia, peripheral immune cells infiltrate the brain and elicit an inflammatory response. However, it is not clear when and how these peripheral immune cells affect the central inflammatory response, and whether interventions that target these processes can alleviate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on peripheral blood of mice at different times after I/R to analyze the key molecule of cell subsets. Then, the expression pattern of this molecule was determined through various biological experiments, including quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, ELISA, and in situ hybridization. Next, the function of this molecule was assessed using knockout mice and the corresponding inhibitor. RESULTS: Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing revealed that peripheral monocyte subpopulations increased significantly after I/R. Cathepsin S (Ctss)was identified as a key molecule regulating monocyte activation by pseudotime trajectory analysis and gene function analysis. Next, Cathepsin S was confirmed to be expressed in monocytes with the highest expression level 3 days after I/R. Infarct size (p < 0.05), neurological function scores (p < 0.05), and apoptosis and vascular leakage rates were significantly reduced after Ctss knockout. In addition, CTSS destroyed the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by binding to junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family proteins to cause their degradation. CONCLUSIONS: Cathepsin S inhibition attenuated cerebral I/R injury; therefore, cathepsin S can be used as a novel target for drug intervention after stroke.

Remifentanil versus Fentanyl for Analgesia in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Fentanyl is approved for use in many countries as an analgesic for patients requiring mechanical ventilation. However, it redistributes and accumulates easily in the plasma because of its long half-life. Remifentanil is a short context-sensitive half-life analgesic with a lower risk of redistribution and accumulation. Materials and methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial. Critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation were randomly allocated to receive an infusion of either remifentanil or fentanyl for up to 72 h. The primary outcome was the analgesic success rate. A 95% confidence interval lower boundary greater than -8% for the difference between the groups was considered to indicate non-inferiority between the drugs. Results: A total of 137 patients received remifentanil (69) or fentanyl (68). Remifentanil's non-inferiority to fentanyl concerning its analgesic success rate was established (difference, 5.97%; 95% confidence interval: -3.99% to 16.35%). Mechanical ventilation duration, extubation duration, successful extubation, intensive care unit discharge, intensive care unit length of stay, and adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: Remifentanil was non-inferior to fentanyl regarding the analgesic success rate in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Aflatoxin B1 impairs porcine oocyte quality via disturbing intracellular membrane system and ATP production.

Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health. Aflatoxin is reported to have carcinogenicity, mutation, growth retardation, immunosuppression and reproductive toxicity. In present study we reported the causes for the declined porcine oocyte quality under aflatoxin exposure. We set up an in vitro exposure model and showed that aflatoxin B1 disturbed cumulus cell expansion and oocyte polar body extrusion. We found that aflatoxin B1 exposure disrupted ER distribution and elevated the expression of GRP78, indicating the occurrence of ER stress, and the increased calcium storage also confirmed this. Besides, the structure of cis-Golgi apparatus, another intracellular membrane system was also affected, showing with decreased GM130 expression. The oocytes under aflatoxin B1 exposure showed aberrant lysosome accumulation and higher LAMP2 expression, a marker for lysosome membrane protection, and this might be due to the aberrant mitochondria function with low ATP production and the increase of apoptosis, since we found that BAX expression increased, and ribosomal protein which is also an apoptosis-related factor RPS3 decreased. Taken together, our study revealed that aflatoxin B1 impairs intracellular membrane system ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and mitochondria function to affect porcine oocyte maturation quality.

Toxicity of the Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol on Early Cleavage of Mouse Embryos by Fluorescence Intensity Analysis.

Deoxynivalenol is a mycotoxin, produced by Fusarium from contaminated corn, wheat, and other grains, that induces multiple effects in humans and animals, including cytotoxic, genotoxic, immunotoxic, and carcinogenic effects. Recent studies show that deoxynivalenol also affects the reproductive system of mammals, including oocyte quality. However, the effects of deoxynivalenol on early embryonic development have not been reported. In this study, fluorescence intensity analysis was used to show that deoxynivalenol disrupted the first cleavage of the zygote. The high deoxynivalenol dose disturbed the movement of the pronucleus after fertilization, while the low deoxynivalenol dose caused aberrant spindle morphology during the metaphase of the first cleavage. Further analysis showed that the reactive oxygen species level increased in the deoxynivalenol-exposed two-cell embryos, indicating oxidative stress. Moreover, deoxynivalenol caused DNA damage in the embryos, as positive γH2A.X signals were detected in the nucleus. These events led to the early apoptosis of mouse embryos, which was confirmed by autophagy. Taken together, our study provides evidence for the toxicity of deoxynivalenol during early embryonic development in the mouse model.

Analysis of preoperative influential factors and construction of a predictive nomogram of difficult thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the preoperative influential factors of difficult thyroidectomy and establish a preoperative nomogram for predicting the difficulty of thyroidectomy. METHODS: A total of 753 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled in this study and randomly divided into training and validation groups at a ratio of 8:2. In both subgroups, the patients were divided into difficult thyroidectomy and nondifficult thyroidectomy groups based on the operation time. Patient age, sex, body mass index (BMI), thyroid ultrasound, thyroid function, preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA), postoperative complications and other data were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of difficult thyroidectomy, and a nomogram predicting surgical difficulty was created. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that male sex (OR = 2.138, 95% CI 1.055-4.336, p = 0.035), age (OR = 0.954, 95% CI 0.932-0.976, p < 0.001), BMI (OR = 1.233, 95% CI 1.106-1.375, p < 0.001), thyroid volume (OR = 1.177, 95% CI 1.104-1.254, p < 0.001) and TPO-Ab (OR = 1.001, 95% CI 1.001-1.002, p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for difficult thyroidectomy. The nomogram model incorporating the above predictors performed well in both the training and validation sets. A higher postoperative complication rate was found in the difficult thyroidectomy group than in the nondifficult thyroidectomy group. CONCLUSION: This study identified independent risk factors for difficult thyroidectomy and created a predictive nomogram for difficult thyroidectomy. This nomogram may help to objectively and individually predict surgical difficulty before surgery and provide optimal treatment.

Phase I study to evaluate of the gastric pH-dependent drug interaction between famitinib and the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole in healthy subjects.

To evaluate the potential gastric pH-dependent drug-drug interaction (DDI), safety and tolerability of famitinib co-administered with omeprazole in healthy subjects. Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled in a single-center, single-arm, open-label, fixed-sequence study. Famitinib was administered as a single oral 25 mg under a fasting condition on day 1, omeprazole (40 mg once daily) was given on days 10-14, concomitantly with famitinib on day 15, and for the follow-up 7 additional days (days 16-22). Blood samples were collected for the pharmacokinetic analysis of famitinib and its metabolite SHR116637 following each famitinib dose. Safety and tolerability were assessed during the whole progress via clinical laboratory tests. The least-squares geometric mean ratios (GMRs) (90% CI) of Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ for famitinib combined with omeprazole to famitinib alone were 0.989 (0.953, 1.027), 0.956 (0.907, 1.007) and 0.953(0.905, 1.005) respectively. For the metabolite SHR116637, their GMRs (90% CI) of the above parameters were 0.851 (0.786, 0.920), 0.890 (0.838, 0.946)and 0.887 (0.835, 0.943), indicating the absence of significant differences in the parameters. During the treatment period, 9(45%) subjects reported 16 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), among which 6 subjects (30%) reported 9 TEAEs and 1 subject (5%) reported 1 TEAE during famitinib or omeprazole administered alone respectively, 5 subjects (25.0%) reported 6 TEAEs during in the combined administration phase. Omeprazole did not have a significant influence on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of famitinib and SHR116637, and the safety profile was good upon co-administration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT 05,041,920.

Effect of spermidine on ameliorating spermatogenic disorders in diabetic mice via regulating glycolysis pathway.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a high incidence metabolic disease, is related to the impairment of male spermatogenic function. Spermidine (SPM), one of the biogenic amines, was identified from human seminal plasma and believed to have multiple pharmacological functions. However, there exists little evidence that reported SPM's effects on moderating diabetic male spermatogenic function. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the SPM's protective effects on testicular spermatogenic function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Therefore, 40 mature male C57BL/6 J mice were divided into four main groups: the control group (n = 10), the diabetic group (n = 10), the 2.5 mg/kg SPM-treated diabetic group (n = 10) and the 5 mg/kg SPM-treated diabetic group (n = 10), which was given intraperitoneally for 8 weeks. The type 1 diabetic mice model was established by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ 120 mg/kg. The results showed that, compare to the control group, the body and testis weight, as well the number of sperm were decreased, while the rate of sperm malformation was significantly increased in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Then the testicular morphology was observed, which showed that seminiferous tubule of testis were arranged in mess, the area and diameter of which was decreased, along with downregulated anti-apoptotic factor (Bcl-2) expression, and upregulated pro-apoptotic factor (Bax) expression in the testes. Furthermore, testicular genetic expression levels of Sertoli cells (SCs) markers (WT1, GATA4 and Vimentin) detected that the pathological changes aggravated observably, such as the severity of tubule degeneration increased. Compared to the saline-treated DM mice, SPM treatment markedly improved testicular function, with an increment in the body and testis weight as well as sperm count. Pro-apoptotic factor (Bax) was down-regulated expression with the up-regulated expression of Bcl-2 and suppression of apoptosis in the testes. What's more, expression of WT1, GATA4, Vimentin and the expressions of glycolytic rate-limiting enzyme genes (HK2, PKM2, LDHA) in diabetic testes were also upregulated by SPM supplement. The evidence derived from this study indicated that the SMP's positive effect on moderating spermatogenic disorder in T1DM mice's testis. This positive effect is delivered via promoting spermatogenic cell proliferation and participating in the glycolytic pathway's activation.

Antioxidant for treatment of diabetic complications: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Antioxidants may provide a complementary treatment for patients with chronic diseases. Nevertheless, studies that have measured the effects of antioxidant on diabetes complications have provided conflicting results. This study aimed to elucidate the association between antioxidant and diabetic complications and to develop robust evidence for clinical decisions by systematic reviews and meta-analysis. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus databases were searched to collect clinical studies related to the efficacy of antioxidants in the treatment of diabetes complications from inception to May 5, 2021. Statistical meta-analyses were performed using the RevMan 5.4 software. Stata16 software was used to detect publication bias. The data of diabetic nephropathy (DN), diabetic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and diabetic periodontitis were collected to analyze the effect of antioxidant on diabetes and the above three complications. The meta-analysis results showed that antioxidant treatment was associated with significantly changes in the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: - 0.21 [95% confidence interval [CI]: - 0.33, -0.10], p < 0.001), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (MD: - 0.41 [95% CI: - 0.63, -0.18], p < 0.001), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD: 0.44 [95% CI: 0.24, 0.63], p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (SMD: - 0.82 [95% CI: - 1.24, -0.41], p < 0.001) than the control group. Antioxidant supplements have the potential to treat three complications of diabetes. In conclusion, the meta-analysis results indicate that antioxidant treatment is effective clinically for diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Financial toxicity in female patients with breast cancer: a national cross-sectional study in China.

PURPOSE: To quantify financial toxicity of female patients with breast cancer in China and investigate its factors and patients' coping strategies. METHODS: The Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) is defined by using a structured questionnaire containing 12 items measuring perceived affordability of healthcare services, with the range of scoring of which being from 0 to 44 (higher score indicates lower financial toxicity). From January to March 2021, a total of 664 female patients diagnosed with stage 0-IV breast cancer were recruited from 33 public tertiary cancer hospitals located in 31 provinces of China. Multivariate linear regression models were used. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 48 years (range: 26-84 years), and 62.04% lived in urban areas. The median COST score was 21.00 (interquartile range: 15-26). Older age, higher household income, and better self-reported health status were associated with lower financial toxicity, while a bigger household size, being retired or unemployed, stage IV cancer, and a history of targeted therapy were associated with higher financial toxicity (all P < 0.05). Nearly half of the patients reported using at least one coping strategy, including considering quitting treatment, delaying treatment, and failing to take medicine or attend medical visits as instructed. The people with increased financial toxicity seem to adopt more coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Financial toxicity and coping strategies are common among Chinese women with breast cancer. An understanding of the factors regarding financial toxicity may help oncologists and policy-makers identify at-risk patients and develop targeted interventions.

Discordant Subjective Perception of Sleep in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Insomnia: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Factors affecting subjective perception of sleep are unclear but clinically important. We investigated the differences in subjective sleep perception of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia disorder (ID). MATERIAL AND METHODS From our Sleep Medicine Center database, 33 patients with OSA and 69 with ID were selected and assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder screen, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pre-sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS), and polysomnography. RESULTS In subjective sleep tests, PSQI total score, sleep quality, sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time, and sleep efficiency (SE) were higher in patients with ID. In objective sleep tests, patients with OSA had longer total sleep time, shorter SOL, lower percentage of stage N3, less SE, higher percentage of stage N1, more arousals, and higher arousal index. Hyperarousal state evaluation showed cognitive hyperarousal significantly higher with ID. Subjective sleep perception with OSA correlated positively with PSAS total score, cognitive hyperarousal, and percentage of stage N2 and negatively with percentage of REM, apnea-hypopnea index, and desaturation index. Subjective sleep perception of patients with ID correlated positively with PSAS total score, cognitive hyperarousal, SOL, N3 sleep latency, and REM sleep latency and negatively with SE. CONCLUSIONS Subjective sleep perception of OSA patients was mainly related to sleep structure and respiratory events, and that of ID patients, to sleep latency. Individual cognitive hyperarousal levels may be involved in negative subjective sleep perception. Clinicians should be aware that OSA patients may not actually experience adequate sleep.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide improves spermatogenic function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice via modulating the glycolysis pathway.

Spermatogenic dysfunction is one of the major secondary complications of diabetes; however, the underlying mechanisms remain ill-defined, and there is no available drug or strategy for the radical treatment of diabetic spermatogenic dysfunction. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the protective effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on testicular spermatogenic function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The results show that oral administration of NMN significantly increases the body and testis weight and the number of sperms. Moreover, the abnormal sperm count and the rate of sperm malformation are significantly decreased compared with the saline-treated diabetic mice. Histological analysis reveals that NMN treatment significantly increases the area and diameter of seminiferous tubules, accompanied by an increased number of spermatogenic cells and sperms. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR results show that NMN increases Bcl-2 expression and decreases Bax expression in the testis. NMN also increases the protein expression of Vimentin and the mRNA expressions of WT1 and GATA4. In addition, qRT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry results also show that NMN increases the expressions of glycolysis-related rate-limiting enzymes including HK2, PKM2, and LDHA. In summary, this study demonstrates the protective effects of NMN on the testis in an STZ-induced diabetic mice model. NMN exerts its protective effects via reducing spermatogenic cell apoptosis by regulating glycolysis of Sertoli cells in diabetic mice. This study provides an experimental basis for the future clinical application of NMN in diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction.

Exposure to nonylphenol impairs oocyte quality via the induction of organelle defects in mice.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an environmental endocrine disruptor, which is mainly used in the production of surfactants, lubricants, additives, pesticides, and emulsifiers. NP is widely found in sewage and sludge, which has neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, metabolic toxicity and reproductive toxicity. In this study, we investigated the effects of NP exposure on mammalian oocyte quality from organelle aspects with mouse in vivo model. The results showed that the ovarian weight of mice exposed to 500 µg/L NP for 4 weeks increased and the development ability of oocytes decreased, showing with lower rate of polar body extrusion. Further analysis indicated that exposure to NP caused the abnormal distribution of mitochondria, following with altered membrane potential drop. NP exposure disrupted the spindle periphery localization of ER, and affected the expression of GRP78 for the induction of ER stress. Moreover, Golgi apparatus fragment in the oocytes was observed, and Rab11-based vesicle transport was disturbed. We also found that the protein degradation might be affected since LAMP2 expression increased and LC3 decreased, indicating the lysosome and autophagy dysfunction. Taken together, our findings suggested that the exposure of NP to mice in vivo affected oocyte quality through its effects on the distribution and function of organelles.

Genome-Wide Identification of Gramineae Brassinosteroid-Related Genes and Their Roles in Plant Architecture and Salt Stress Adaptation.

Brassinosteroid-related genes are involved in regulating plant growth and stress responses. However, systematic analysis is limited to Gramineae species, and their roles in plant architecture and salt stress remain unclear. In this study, we identified brassinosteroid-related genes in wheat, barley, maize, and sorghum and investigated their evolutionary relationships, conserved domains, transmembrane topologies, promoter sequences, syntenic relationships, and gene/protein structures. Gene and genome duplications led to considerable differences in gene numbers. Specific domains were revealed in several genes (i.e., HvSPY, HvSMOS1, and ZmLIC), indicating diverse functions. Protein-protein interactions suggested their synergistic functions. Their expression profiles were investigated in wheat and maize, which indicated involvement in adaptation to stress and regulation of plant architecture. Several candidate genes for plant architecture (ZmBZR1 and TaGSK1/2/3/4-3D) and salinity resistance (TaMADS22/47/55-4B, TaGRAS19-4B, and TaBRD1-2A.1) were identified. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate brassinosteroid-related plant architecture genes in four Gramineae species and should help elucidate the biological roles of brassinosteroid-related genes in crops.